Khalid Donnel Robinson (QRO photos outdoors) released “Location”, and the rest was history. His debut single hit quadruple platinum, followed by last cheer’s hit debut full-length, American Teen, and now the R&B singer very much on the rise plays Lollapalooza (QRO photos at 2018 festival).

BØRNS, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM

Actually from Michigan, not Scandinavia, is singer Garrett Borns, a.k.a. BØRNS (QRO photos at a festival). He’s already graduated to the big-time with 2015’s debut Dopamine, and comes back to Austin City Limits behind this year’s gender-bending Blue Madonna (QRO review).

Gang of Youths, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM (Weekend One)

Reignwolf, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM (Weekend Two)

Catch the indie rock of Australia’s Gang of Youths, who come to ACL behind last year’s Down Under chart-topper & ARIA winning sophomore record, Go Farther In Lightness.

West Virginia-born, Austin-living Asleep At the Wheel having been bringing western swing since 1970, racking up not only nine Grammy Awards, but have also appeared at every single Austin City Limits Festival!

The German-Canadian-English singer/songwriter Alice Merton (QRO photos) had a number one single, “No Roots”, in France. Truly international.

Miller Lite Stage

Brockhampton, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM

Formed in an online forum, making them “the internet’s first boy band,” Brockhampton (QRO photos at a festival) bring the twentieth century phenomena into the modern age, including hip-hop and mixtapes – and not being just lily-white pretty faces. Though they recently kicked out a member for sexual assault allegations (very modern), and went on a hiatus, but are back (QRO photos at a festival).

Greta Van Fleet, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (Weekend One)

Lily Allen, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (Weekend Two)

New Michigan rock comes to Panorama in the form of the next generation of classic rock, Greta Van Fleet (QRO spotlight on), one of Robert Plant’s favorite young bands, touring behind last year’s EPs Black Smoke Rising & From the Fires (QRO reviews).

London’s Lily Allen (QRO photos) was one of the first musicians to garner a following solely through her MySpace page, leading to a major label contract, worldwide tours, and the massively successful debut Alright, Still & 2009’s It’s Not Me, It’s You. But then she closed down her MySpace account and announced a hiatus. That only lasted until 2013’s U.K. chart-topper Sheezus. After personal difficulties, including the end of her marriage, Allen (QRO photos in Texas) channeled into this year’s No Shame (QRO review).

While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes, guitarist Joshua Tillman found time to do his own solo stuff (QRO album review), but in 2012 he moved to solo full-time as Father John Misty (QRO photos) with Fear Fun, and he comes back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ‘15) behind last year’s Pure Comedy (QRO review). As Aziz Ansari said in Master of None (before his more recent issues), “That’s a hot ticket!”

Not a rapper but an indie-rock trio, Sir Sly (QRO photos at a festival) came out of The Hype Machine blog to success (including songs used in movies, video games, and a Cadillac ad).

Big Thief, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

It takes a lot for a band to name their album Masterpiece – their debut, in fact. But Brooklyn indie-folksters Big Thief (QRO photos outdoors in Brooklyn) pulled it off, and come to Austin City Limits behind their last year’s follow-up, Capacity.

Also:

The Coronas, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend One)

Red Yarn, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM

School of Rock, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

The Barton Hills Choir, 12:20 PM – 1:00 PM

Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend Two)

Lard Dog & The Band of Shy, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Ralph’s World, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

School of Rock, 12:20 PM – 1:00 PM

Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage

Silent Disco, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Gryffin, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM

Remix master Dan Griffith comes to Austin City Limits as Gryffin.

Golden Dawn Arkestra, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM

Influenced by the ultra-influential Sun Ra and his Arkestra, Austin’s own Golden Dawn Arkestra (QRO photos at an Austin festival) is a feast for the ears, eyes, and mind, as they come to Austin City Limits.

Also:

The Weather Station, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (Weekend One)

Duncan Fellows, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (Weekend Two)

Ravyn Lenae, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Fatai, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

Wesley Bray & The Disciples of Joy, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One)

The Gospel Stars, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two)

BMI Stage (Weekend One)

Fickle Friends, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Brighton’s Fickle Friends (QRO photos) spent two years touring their native U.K. & Europe before finally getting signed, putting out their debut You Are Something Else earlier this year.

Mikky Ekko, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

While he first came to notice when he was featured on Rihanna’s “Stay”, Mikky Ekko (QRO photos) comes to Austin City Limits while we wait for his sophomore LP, Fame.

Also:

lovelytheband, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

RF Shannon, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

BMI Stage (Weekend Two)

Arkells, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Explosive rock band, Arkells, have been ensuing in chaos amongst all their shows on tour. They come to Austin City Limits just before the release of their latest, Rally Cry.

Off of an appearance on “Lost” in Chance the Rapper’s 2013 mixtape Acid Rap, Noname (QRO photos at a festival) has made her own name.

Also:

Cuco, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Topaz Jones, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One)

Magic City Hippies, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two)

American Express Stage

Paul McCartney, 7:45 PM – 10:00 PM

Do you need to be told who Paul McCartney (QRO photos) is? Seriously? In addition to birthing the hilarious “Who the fuck is Paul McCartney” meme, Sir Paul just might be the biggest living music star on the planet (QRO photos). He was a Beatle, for Christ’s sake – and not Ringo. He had a successful second career in the seventies in Wings, and has kept going and going (QRO photos) – long past age sixty-four (that vegetarian lifestyle has done something…). He has even released new records, most recently with this year’s Egypt Station (though let’s forget about 2012’s collection of standards, Kisses On the Bottom – QRO review). Live (QRO photos headlining a festival), the ageless wonder (QRO photos) plays from his entire discography, “Band On the Run” to “The End” – so just “Let It Be”.

If you like music, you like David Byrne (QRO photos). The lead Talking Head became the art-rock icon in the eighties behind amazing songs like “Psycho Killer”, “Once In a Lifetime”, “Burning Down the House”, “And She Was”, and so much more, like the classic live full concert movie/album, Stop Making Sense.

Since The Heads, he’s become the most recognized & influential art-rock artist since David Bowie, teaming up with everyone from Brian Eno to ACL ’18 performer (see below) St. Vincent (QRO photos at a festival with St. Vincent), with 2012’s Love This Ghost (QRO review) – hopefully they’ll be a reunion – but this year has come out solo on American Utopia (QRO review). And his live show features a massive, all-dancing (including drummers) ensemble (QRO photos at a festival). He returns to Austin City Limits for the first time in a decade!

Bishop Briggs, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Born in London to Scottish parents from Bishopbriggs, Sarah Grace McLaughlin (QRO photos) comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) in the run-up to her highly anticipated debut full-length, next month’s Church of Scars.

One of the biggest breakouts in the dance-rock craze of last decade has been France’s Justice (QRO photos at a festival), who followed up smash 2007 debut † with 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco and 2016’s Woman, as well as expanding their live show (QRO photos), including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival).

Texan rapper Travis Scott has succeeded in everything from producing (for GOOD Music’s Very GOOD Beats) to mixtapes to studio albums to team-ups (with Quavo as Huncho Jack) – not to mention being Kylie Jenner’s man. He comes to play Austin City Limits after the release of his highly anticipated AstroWorld, so look for new material like recent single “Watch”, which featured Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert.

CHVRCHES, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Scottish electro-pop outfit CHVRCHES (QRO live review) have gotten very big very fast (QRO photos at a festival), before & after the release of debut full-length The Bones of What You Believe (QRO review) – but are fronted by the tiny Lauren Mayberry (QRO photos at a festival) and some giant lights. They successfully followed up Bones with 2015’s Every Open Eye (QRO review), and have Love Is Dead (QRO review) out this year, and now return to Austin City Limits.

Dev Hynes (QRO photos) first came up writing for others, such as on Chemical Brothers’ Grammy-winning We Are the Night (QRO review), before forming his own band, Lightspeed Champion (QRO photos), not to mention playing in the short-lived Test Icicles. But he found serious success in his electronic project Blood Orange (QRO live review), including a feature in The New York Times, coming to Austin City Limits after the release of his latest, Negro Swan.

René Juan Pérez Joglar, a.k.a. Residente, has done a wide range of things. His rapping (including his group Calle 13) has earned him four Grammys and twenty-four Latin Grammys – more than any other Latin artist. But he’s a professional artist, director, and writer, and has been the face of campaigns by UNICEF and Amnesty International.

Sharon Van Etten, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Weekend One)

Marian Hill, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Weekend Two)

While there’s a ton of stripped songstresses out there, one of the nicer ones is Sharon Van Etten (QRO photos at a festival), who evoked the sad strains of Appalachia on her debut, Because I Was In Love (QRO review), while 2011’s Epic (QRO review) made her the Brooklyn ‘it girl’ (QRO photos in New York), and 2012’s Tramp (QRO review) got her get even more acclaim – and attention (QRO photos). She’s even had a star-studded show in NYC (QRO photos), where she had special guests like Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth & Aaron Dessner of The National (see above). She comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2014’s Are We There (QRO review) and last year’s remastered & remixed (it was) because i was in love (QRO review).

Not a woman but a duo, Marian Hill (QRO photos) is synth-pop Philly pair Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd, who return to Austin City Limits’ second weekend.

From frigid Duluth comes the warm jam-folk of Trampled by Turtles (QRO photos), who are heading onto the open road (QRO photos outdoors) behind this year’s great Life Is Good On the Open Road (QRO review), and return to Austin City Limits.

Also:

Lucie Silvas, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Ruston Kelly, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Charley Crockett, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

HomeAway Stage

Nelly, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Weekend One)

Justice, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Weekend Two)

Nelly is more than just a chart-topping, Grammy-winning rapper. The man who told us it was “Hot In Herre” and to cool down with some “Pimp Juice” has his own clothing lines & more, and is one of the top five best-selling rappers in American history.

One of the biggest breakouts in the dance-rock craze of last decade has been France’s Justice (QRO photos at a festival), who followed up smash 2007 debut † with 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco and 2016’s Woman, as well as expanding their live show (QRO photos), including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival).

BAZZI, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Andrew Bazzi came to fame with last fall’s single “Mine” – which became an Internet meme when used with a Snapchat filter. So twenty-first century…

The Breeders, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Back in the early nineties alt-boom, Kim Deal left Boston’s acclaimed Pixies to form her own band with her sister Kelley, The Breeders, and they had one of the biggest hits of the era with the classic Last Splash (QRO live review performing Last Splash). However, after that the band sputtered to a delayed disappointment record Title TK a decade later.

But this is the twenty-first century, and everything is coming back. First Deal and Pixies frontman Black Francis buried the hatchet and reunited the old band, while Kim & Kelley reteamed up (QRO live review) to make Mountain Battles (QRO review) – which unfortunately was no Last Splash. So Kim left the Pixies (again), recruited the entire old Splash crew and played the record on tour (QRO photos of them performing Last Splash at a festival).

The definition of heavy metal and the most successful band in the genre, Metallica (QRO live review) are pure headliner. The band (QRO photos) that has given us …And Justice For All, the blackest album cover since Spinal Tap, St. Anger documentary (and… Lulu – QRO review), and split ears worldwide (QRO photos). They (QRO photos) come to headline Austin City Limits behind 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct and a suitable epic show (QRO photos at an intimate show).

There are some acts that you can’t help but enjoy, and Liverpool’s The Wombats (QRO spotlight on) are one. The infectious electric sound of 2007 debut A Guide To Love, Lose & Desperation and songs such as “Moving To New York” (QRO video) and “Here Comes the Anxiety” (QRO video) was followed-up nicely in 2011 with This Modern Glitch (QRO review), and songs like “Techno Fan” (QRO video) and “Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves)” (QRO video). In 2015 The Wombats (QRO interview) returned with Glitterbug (QRO review) and pieces such as “This Is Not a Party” (QRO video) and “Emoticons” (QRO video), and this year with the excellent titled Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (QRO review) & fun show (QRO photos at a festival), as they return to Austin City Limits.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Sheffield-native English rockers (QRO live review), you obviously were not paying much attention in 2006 when their much ballyhoo-ed debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am Not was being pumped out of every speaker and headphone either side of the Atlantic & more (QRO live review in Australia), thanks to an energetic MySpace fan base. Fast-forward eight years. MySpace is a shell of its former self, but the Arctic Monkeys (QRO photos at a festival) have put out four more studio albums, 2007’s Favorite Worst Nightmare (QRO review), 2009’s Humbug (QRO review), 2011’s Suck It and See (QRO review), and 2013’s American breakthrough AM, and with a new media storm around them (QRO photos). They come back to Austin City Limits to headline the Honda Stage (QRO photos headlining a festival) after the release of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.

Travis Scott, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend One)

Shawn Mendes, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend Two)

Texan rapper Travis Scott has succeeded in everything from producing (for GOOD Music’s Very GOOD Beats) to mixtapes to studio albums to team-ups (with Quavo as Huncho Jack) – not to mention being Kylie Jenner’s man. He comes to play Austin City Limits after the release of his highly anticipated AstroWorld, so look for new material like recent single “Watch”, which featured Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert.

Canadian Shawn Mendes first got notice on Vine, and quickly launched into his own successful pop career. His three records, 2015’s Handwritten, 2016’s Illuminate, and this year’s Shawn Mendes, have all debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, making him one of the youngest ever to reach such heights. And he only turned twenty in August.

X Ambassadors, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Ithaca’s X Ambassadors (QRO photos) come back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos) while we wait for Joyful, their follow-up to 2015’s hit debut, VHS.

Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe (QRO photos at a festival) first came to notice for her acting, including motion capturing the female protagonist in Tom Hanks’ Polar Express, but more recently has broken out as a singer/songwriter (QRO photos at a festival), already up to third album last year with Joyride – and even performed “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania 33!

Bahamas, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

One of the best names in the singer/songwriter genre today, Afie Jurvanen cut his teeth as a backing musician for names like Jason Collett, Feist, and Hayden. Under the stage name ‘Bahamas’ (QRO photos at a festival), the self-taught musician recorded his first solo album in a rural Ontario cabin. The result: 2009’s Juno-nominated Pink Strat, which earned the Toronto native spots and just about every ‘Who To Watch’ list, as well as a place on the 2010 Polaris Long List. Bahamas (QRO live review) comes south to Austin (QRO photos) behind this year’s Earthtones.

From somewhere others consider nowhere, New Albany, Indiana, Houndmouth (QRO photos in Middle America) have managed to make it by working the Americana rock road, and are coming back to Austin City Limits behind this year’s The Golden Age (QRO review).

Prince forged The Revolution, one of the biggest acts of the eighties, including the iconic Purple Rain. The wide and varied group broke up in 1986, but thirty years later reunited following their founder’s tragic death.

Khruangbin, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend One)

Moses Sumney, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend Two)

Houston’s Khruangbin (QRO photos in Austin) draw from all over the world, Spain to the Middle East to Thailand, but return to Austin City Limits.

The world is littered with rappers trying their hand at acting, and actors trying their hand at rapping (to say nothing of sports stars trying both) – with usually poor results. Standing out from that crowd is Childish Gambino (QRO photos), a.k.a. Donald Glover (QRO photos at a festival) of NBC’s great (but sadly cancelled) Community and now his own much acclaimed creation, FX’s Atlanta (plus young Lando Calrissian in Solo).

While initial responses were lukewarm, 2016’s “Awaked, My Love!” became a commercial & critical hit, including winning a Grammy. Most recently, Glover Gambino’s (QRO photos at a festival) “This Is America” put him on the top ranks of political rappers. Danny Childish returns to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ’14).

Camila Cabello, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend One)

Vince Staples, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend Two)

Formerly one of the five ladies of Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello (QRO photos at a festival) comes solo to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) after last year’s release of her debut solo full-length, The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving.

Austin City Limits got another choice lyricist in Vince Staples (QRO photos at a festival). The Long Beach native first came up with others, such as in the group Cutthroat Boyz and in association with Odd Future (QRO live review), but has since made a name all his own (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with last year’s sophomore album Big Fish Theory. He plays his second ACL.

Janelle Monáe, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter (QRO photos at a festival) nicely crosses between the urban and alternative genres, from signing to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Record to opening on tour with of Montreal (QRO live review with of Montreal) to much, much more. She has since risen to amazing heights (QRO photos) with 2013’s The Electric Lady and this year’s Dirty Computer, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to guest singing on mega-hit single “We Are Young” by fun. to starring as an electric lady in Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams and even becoming a face for CoverGirl (QRO photos at a festival).

Twin Shadow, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

With one of the best debut albums of 2010, Forget, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, George Lewis Jr. (a.k.a. Twin Shadow – QRO photos) shot up on the hype meter. Turns out, the ‘80s new wave-influenced pop of the Dominican Republic born musician (QRO photos at a festival) actually lived up to its reputation. Sophisticated melodies and catchy hooks abound, the tracks of Forget easily transitioned from haunting poetics to infectious dance numbers (QRO photos at a festival), and he’s lived up to that level with later records Confess, Eclipse, and the new Caer, as he returns to Austin City Limits.